Understanding the Sport Tourism Phenomena

Other segments to include

New Growth Markets - Attracting the 21st Century Sport Tourist
The Future Potential of Sport Tourism - unlocking long term growth
Attracting Sporting Events - a Strategic Think Tank
Growth Leisure Tourism and Participation Tourism
Futurism – The Sportification of society over the next three decades
Think Tank: Brand-building strategies in Sport Tourism and International Travel
Closing ceremony

Bookings

Cost per delegate for both days is just US$300 for bookings prior to midnight 31 July 2012. To attend the 2012 International Sport Tourism Conference please complete the Conference Booking Form.

The programme will have a strong focus on specialist Sport Tourism knowledge, analysis and market leader insights and will provide thought provoking and invigorating content.

This blockbuster conference will feature a prestigious line-up of leading experts and decision makers in sporting events and Sport Tourism and will govern a blue-chip audience as well as considerable global media attention.

The 2012 International Sport Tourism Conference line up will be released soon.

Last year, The International Sport Tourism Conference run in co-operation with SportBusiness Group, delivered a host of useful insights to an international delegation in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 5th. This conference, the first SportBusiness Group has ever done in Africa, kicked off the WSDE Sport Tourism Expo.

Making the opening address, Thandiwe January Mclean, CEO, South African Tourism, said: “You are all part of the monumental occasion taking place here in South Africa with the World Cup. It is extremely significant that this landmark conference, WSDE Sport Tourism Expo, is also taking place here.”

She also highlighted how the tournament would serve as a foundation for future sporting events.“Sport tourism is an essential tool in transforming South Africa,” she said: “It is a powerful catalyst for skills transfer and job creation. The World Cup has helped us build the beginnings of well-developed sports structure. From world-class stadia and upgrading our transport era, we now have the tools in place to build a long-term legacy.”

One of the success stories to emerge from the tournament has been the growth of new markets. These include India, growth up 17 percent last month compared to the same period last year, China up 12.5 percent, Holland up 22 percent and Argentina up an incredible 43 percent.

Whilst the whole of South Africa is reaping the rewards of FIFA 2010, the city of Johannesburg has been on its brightest stars.

In the opening session of WSDE, Lindiwe Kwele, CEO, Johannesburg Tourism Company said: “Who would have thought Joburg would have been the epicentre of the World Cup?”
“Today we are now standing on a par with the other previous host nations of the World Cup.”

The Joburg tourism chief also highlighted how one of the great success stories had been the infrastructure improvements to the city, including the Gautrain and the Rea Vaya – Johannesburg’s new rapid bus system that whisks fans from points across the city to games at two host stadiums, Soccer City and Ellis Park.
“The tournament has been a platform that has changed the geo-political face of Joburg. The new infrastructure has helped decongest the roads, it has initiated the construction of the Gautrain and the implementation of the Rea Vaya.
“Sport tourism is a catalyst for sustainable growth, and it is essential that we ensure the World Cup is a springboard for the future.”

One of the other patterns to emerge from the tournament has been the explosion of social media on the World Cup stage compared to four years ago. Keynote speaker, Clay Smith, Senior Business Director, Octagon, highlighted how Sept Blatter’s Twitter site had been attracting followers at a rate of 9 per second.

The delegation included a large Brazilian contingent, eager to gain insights and analysis ahead of their hosting the FIFA 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.

David Sidenberg, BMI South Africa, gave a useful insight. “Ticketing income alone won’t generate sufficient revenue to recoup the construction costs. You need to cover all angles in your plan, from how easy the stadium will be to adapt for concert use to camera placings,” he said.

Meanwhile Rio de Janeiro gave a presentation of the unprecedented opportunities his city faces ahead of hosting the world’s two greatest sporting events. These include the creation of Brazil’s first zero energy building with the upgrading of the Maracana, extending the highways to facilitate a Johannesburg-style Rea Vaya, rapid bus transit.